Handle for wooden baskets



March 12, 1929. H. w. KRAMER HANDLE FOR WOODEN BASKETS Filed April 30, 1926 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES",

HENRY W. KRAMER, 0F KINGSTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RALPH PJYOUNG,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF MARLBORO, NEW YORK.

HANDLE FOR .WOODEN BASKETS.

Application filed April 30,

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates several embodiments of the same selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims. v

The object of my invention is to provide a metallic handle for supporting and carrying a wooden basket of the type ordinarily used forholding and transporting grapes and other fruit, vegetables, etc. As ordinarily constructed such baskets are usuallyprovided with handles formed of a thin strip of veneer bent into inverted U-form and secured to the sides of the basket by tacks or staples, These handles are very much in the way in the packing of baskets and preparing them for ship'- ment, as they prevent nesting of the baskets, and the handles are frequently broken or detached from the baskets with consequent loss not only of the basket, but of its contents. These baskets are ordinarily composed of a solid wooden. bottom ofconsiderable thickness around the edges of which are secured sides of wood veneer which are bound around the bottom on the outside and around the upper edge, usually'both inside-and outside, with narrow bindingstrips, of wood veneer secured in place by tacks or small=nails, or staples. It follows, therefore, that in providing a metal handle for. such basket, it is very desirable to so construct it or attach itthat it willbe connected with the bottom of the basket so as to support the contents without undue vertical strainon thc'sidesor on the binding strips, or their attaching means. It is also desirable that the handle, as far as possible, may be attached to the basket in the process of manufacturingthe basket, that is to say, at the factory, and that it be so constri'zcted as to permit of the ncstingof the baskets in considerable numbers, Las, say twenty five, for example, to a nest, for convenience in shipping the baskets from the factory to the point where they are to be packed. In carrying out my present invention I provide a metallic handle which comprises a bail member and two side members adapted to be attached to the basket adjacent to the inner faces of theside portionsthereof,.and effectinn' a direct connection betwen the bail-mem her and the bottom of the basket for sup porting the contents of the basket without 1926. Serial No. 105,679.

side of, the basket and made to lie closely ad- I jacent to the sides andbottom of the same, and thereby permit of the nesting -of the baskets for shipment. In the latter case, the

v entire handle can be attached to the basket at the factory before shipment, whereas in the first mentioned case, the bail members will be ordinarily packed in the topmost basket of each nest and attached to the in dividual baskets at the point Where they are packed. 'In both cases, however, when the baskets are being packed, and when packed for shipment, the bottom of the basket will be directly connected to the handle and support the contents. here the bail member is pivotally connected with the side members, my invention also contemplates locking means by which the bail member may interlock with portions of the side members so as to hold the bail stifiiy with respect thereto, and in alignment therewith, as for example, while the basket is being packed, or at any other time, as desired.

In theaccompanying drawings, U

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a wooden basket provided with one form of myv improved handlein which the bailis piv-, otally connected with the side members and located inside of the basket.

Fig; 2represents a vertical sectional View Fig. 6 isa partial sectionalview similar to Fig. 2, showing a pivoted bail provided. with kicking devices for engaging the side mem; oers and loek position.

.ng the bail member in vertical. 7

Fig. 7 is a detail view of portions of the bail member and a side member, shown in Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 p 7 In the accompanying drawing, A, represents the basket, which consists of the wooden bottom, B, side pieces of veneer, indicated at C. D represents the binding strips around the bottom of the basket, and E, represents the binding); strips around the upper edge of the sides, C, these baskets being of usual and bers which are vertical rods or bars, each of which is provided. at its upper end with a. horizontally disposed-point, 0, adapted to be placed in engagement with one of the eyes, 3, 01? the bail member and forced through the upper binding strips and side portion of the basket from the inside outwardly and clinched at the outer side of the-basket,indicated in. dot- V ted lines in Fig.3, thus uniting it to the basket and pivotally connecting one end oi? the bail member thereto. The lower end of the side member, 5, is also provided with a point, as indicated at 7, which is adapted to be driven through the bottom of the basket and is then bent laterally, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 beneath the bottom, B, of the basket. here the bottom, B, of the basket, is rather light, I may advantageously provide a metallic plate, indicated at 8, either above or below the bottom, 13,01. the basket, said plate having holes throngh which the side members pass,

for stiffening the basket at the bottom, pre venting the lateral spread of the basket at that point, and adding generally to the ruggedness oi the basket.

It will be seen by this construction, that the bail member will be pivotally connected with. the basket with its arms, 2-2, inside of the same, and closely adjacent to the sides of the basket. The bail member will be so formed that it can be dropped within the basket until the h and engaging portion, 1, rests on the bottom, and the arms, 2 2, lieclosely adjacent to the sides of the basket, as indicated in Fig. 1. The side members, 55, also lie close to the sides of the basket, and the baskets with the handles attached may be nested inthe same manner they could be without handles. Whenthe baskets of a nest are separated, the bail member can be swung into a vertical position, as shown inFigz'. 2, to support the basket, WhllG'lll is being packed, or

for carrying it and it will be observed that the upward lift of the handle is transferred directly by the side members, 5, to the bottom of the basket, so that the sides of the basket the bail member and prevent the longitudinal movement of the cover, and it will be seen that the cover retaining shoulders, 4, of the bail member will engage the cover at the inner edges of the notches, f, and hold the cover against vertical movement. I

In some instances it may be desirable to have the bail when raised into vertical. position, securely locked against pivotal movement with respect to the side members. In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a slight modification of the form of my handle just described, in which the corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals with 100 added. In this form the side arms, 102, of the bail memberare preferably bent to form a loop, 103, toengage the portion, 106, of a side memher, 105, and are provided beyond this loop with an arm, 110, provided at its outer end with a locking portion, conveniently made in the form of a half loop, or bend, 111, and constructed to snap over and interlock with a portion of the side member, 105,.wl1en the bail member is swung upward into vertical position, the material from which the bail member is constructed, having sufficient resilience to permit this. interlocking of the side member with the locking portion, 111, of the bail member at each side of the basket. .his construction will enable the bail member to be maintained in vertical position whenever it is so placed, and will, in some instances, be desirable in orderto tacilitatethe filling and packing of the baskets, while the bail member can befolded down at any time, swinging on its pivotal connections with the side members, by forcibly disengaging; the locking portions, 111, from the side members. Ihis locking arrangement for the pivoted bail has atend encyto stiffen the handle structure and facilitate the control of the basket by means of the handle. I

In Figs. at and 5 I have shown another modification of my invention in which the bail member is detachable, the side members and hail member being provided with guidinn and locking means by which they may be united at'any time. In this construction the bail men'iber is provided with a hand engaging portion, 201, and, Side arms, 202, each of which is provided with a guiding portion, as a horizontally disposed loop, 203, and a locking portion, as a hook shaped portion, 204, at its lower end. Each of the side members, indicated at 205, is provided with clinching points, 206 and 207, and in this instance I have shown the lower endof each side member provided with a horizontal portion, 209, extending beneath the bottom, 13", of the basket, so that'the clinching point, 207, extends vertically up through the basket from the bottom, but this is not essential. Where this type of side member is employed, it will be conveniently driven through the bottom of the basket, the portion, 209, will be bent over and the portion, 207, bent upwardly and driven up into or through the bottom, after which the clinching point, 206, will be driven outwardly through the upper binding strips, E and the side, 0 and clinched. In this instance the upper portion of each of the side bars, 205, is provided with an outwardly extending portion, forn'iing a loop, 212, an inwardly extending retaining shoulder, 213, and an upwardly extending guiding por tion, 214. To attach the bail member, the guiding loops, 203, thereof, are made to engage the upper ends of the guiding portions, 2M, and the locking hook portions, .204, are made to engage the loop portions,2l2, of theside members, as clearly, shown in Figs. l and 5, for effecting an interlocking engagement, the locking hooks, 204, being held against accidental displacement by the guiding engagement between the parts, 203 and 214. The shoulder, 213, preferably engages.

the cover, F in such a manner as to hold it against both vertical and longitudinal movement. These covers are ordinarily made out of strips extending longitudinally of the basket, and transverse cleats extending at intervals across the longitudinal strips, and nailed or otherwise secured thereto. The locking shoulders, 213, preferably engage a notch or recess, formed in the cover, as for example, in the transverse cleat thereof, and

serve the purpose therefore, of bot-h holding" the cover against vertical, and also against longitudinal movement. i It will be seen that where this form of handle isused, the side members can be attached to the basket at the time of its manufacture, and if the baskets are to be nested a suitable number of bail member-s for the baskets of the entire nest can be conveniently packed in the topmost basket, and the handles attached tothe baskets after they are delivered.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- vide a direct support therefor, and a bail 'member having a hand engag ng portlon and side arms extending downwardly therefrom,

and constructed to engage said side members.

2.. A handle for wooden baskets, ooinprising among its members, vertically disposed side members for engaging the inner faces of opposite sidesof the basket and provided at their upper endswith means for permanently securing them to the sides of the basket adjacent to the top edge thereof, and provided. at their lower ends'with portions adapted to extend directly through the bottom of the basket and be permanently secured thereto, and a bail member having side portions for engaging s: M side members, whereby in lifting the basket by the handle, the weight of thecontents will be supported substantially entirely by the bottom. 1 i i 1 3. A handle for wooden baskets, comprising two sidentiembers for engaging the inner faces of the basket at opposite points, each provided adjacent to its upper end with means for permanently attaching it to the basket adjacent to the upper edge of the side portion thereof, and provided atits lower end with means for connecting it directly with the bottom of the basket toprovide a direct support therefor, and a bail member pivotally engaging said side members within the sides of the basket and adapted to fold down inside of the basket to perinit the nesting of ti e baskets after the handle is applied thereto. I v a l. -A handle for wooden baskets, comprising two side members for engaging the inner faces of the basket at opposite points, each provided adjacent to its upper end with means for permanently attaching'it to the basket adjacent to the upper edge of the side portion thereof, andprovided at its lower end with means for connecting it directly with the bottom, of the basket to provide a direct support therefor, and a bail member co'n'iprising a hand engaging portion and lateral arms pivotally connected tothe side members adjacent to their upper ends within the sides of the basket, said. arms being of such length as to permit the bailmember to be folded down within the basket with its hand engaging portion resting on the bottom and 1ts lateral arms lying close to the sides of the basket to permit of the nesting of the baskets after the handle has been applied thereto.

5. .A handle for wooden baskets, compris-" ing two side members for engaging the inner faces of the basket at opposite points, each provided adjacent to its upper end with means for permanently attaching it to the basket adjacent to the upper edge of the side portion thereof, andprovided at itslower end with meansfor connecting it, directly with the bottom of the basket to provide a direct support therefor, and a bail member comprising a hand engaging portion and lateral. arms pivotally connected to the side members adjacent to their upper endswith bore.

in the sides of the basket, said arms being of such length as to permit the bail memher to be folded downwithin the basket with its hand engaging portion resting on the bottom and its lateral arms lyin 'close to the sides of the basket to permit oi? the nesting of the baskets after the handle has been applied thereto, the arms of the bail member and said side members being provided with means for positively interlocking them when the handle is swung on its pivotal connections with the side members in the vertical position. i i

6. A handle for wooden baskets, coi'nprising two side members for engaging the inner faces oi? the basket at opposite points, each provided adjacent to its upper end with means for permanently attaching it to the basket adjacent to the upper edge of the side portion illlQlC-Ojt, and provided at its lower end with means for connecting it directly with the bottom of the basket. to provide a direct support therefor, and a bail member con'iprising a hand engaging portion and lat-V eral arms pivotally connected to the side members adjacent to their upper ends within the sides of the basket, said arms being of such length as to permit the bail member to be folded down within the basket with its hand engaging portion resting on the bot.- tom and its lateral arms lying close to the sides of the basket to permit of the nesting ot the baskets after the handle has been applied thereto, the arms of said bail member being provided with portions extending beyond their pivotal connections with the side members, said bail arm extensions and said side members being'provided with interlocking portions adapted to be brought into engagement with each other when the bail member isin vertical position to lock the bail member rigidly with respect to said side 1nein- 7. A handle .i'or wooden baskets, compris- 111g two side members tor engaging the inner faces of thebasket atfopposite points, each provided adjacent to its upper end with means for permanently attaching it to the.

basket adjacent to the upper edge of theside portion thereof, and provided at its lower end with means for connecting it directly with the bottom of the basket to provide a direct support therefor, and a bail member comprising a handengaging portion and lateral. arms pivotally connected tothe side menu hers adjacent to their upper cnds within the sides of the basket, said arms being of such length as to permit the bail member to be folded down within the basket with its hand engaging portion resting on the bottom and baskets after th'e'handle has been applied.

thereto, the arms of the bail member having extensions projecting beyond their pivotal connections with the side members and provided adjacent to theirouter ends with locking devices, each adapted to engage the adj acent side member between its points of connection with the basket to lock the bail member'rigidly with respect to the side members when the bail member is in vertical position. I

'8. A handle for wooden baskets comprising side members for engaging the inner itaces oi the sides of the baskets at opposite points, each *5 said side members being provided at its upper end with a horizontal, outwardly extending attaching device adapted to pass through the basket and'to be bent over to secure the side member rigidly thereto, each side member being provided at its lower end with a portion adapted to extend directly through the bottom ofthe basket and to be bent over to connect the side member rigidly with the bottom of the basket, and a bail member having a hand engaging portion and side-arms for pivotally engaging the horizontally disposed portions of said side memhers adjacent to their upper ends within the sides of the basket, to enable the bail member to be swung down inside of the basket and permit the nesting oi the baskets after the handles are attached thereto.

9. A handle for wooden baskets comprising side members for engaging the inner faces or the sides of the baskets at opposite points, each of said side members being provided at its upper end with a horizontal, outwardly extending attaching device adapted to pass through the basket and to be bent over to secure the side member rigidly thereto, each side member being provided at its lower end with a portion adapted to extend directly through the bottom of the basket and to be bent over to connect the side 11 ember rigidly with the bottom of the basket, and a bail member having a hand, engaging portion and side arms for pivot-ally engaging the horizontally disposed portions of said side members adjacent to their upper ends within ill ill)

the sides of the basket, to enable the bail side arms being provided with extensions projecting beyond their pivotal. connection with the side members, and each provided with locking means for engaging the adjacent side member between its points of connection with the basket when the bail member is in vertical position.

'10, A handle for wooden baskets, com1nrising a p'air of side members tor engaging the inner-facesoi the sides of the basket at opposite'points, each of said side members being provided at its upper end with a horizontally extending attaching point adapted to pass through the side of the basket ad acent to its upper edge and secured thereto, each side member being provided on its lower end with an attaching point adapted to pass directly through the bottom of the basket and be secured thereto, anda bail member comprising arms adjacent to the inner faces of the opposite sides of the basket, to permit the baskets to be nested after the handles have been applied thereto. I

11. A handle for wooden baskets, comprising a pair of side members for engaging the inner faces of the sides of the basket at opposite points, each of said side members being provided at its upper end with a horizontally extending attaching point adapted to pass through the side of the basket adjacent to its upper edge and secured thereto, each side member being provided on its lower end with an attaching point adapted to pass directly through the bottom of the basket and to be secured thereto, and a bail member comprising a hand engaging part andside arms having integral loops for surrounding and pivotally engaging the horizontal attaching points at the upper ends of the said arms on the inner faces of the basket sides, whereby baskets to be nested after the handles have 7 been applied thereto, said bail arms having integral projections extending beyond said loops and provided adjacent to their outer 7 ends with looking portions for engaging the side members between their" attaching points ,to hold the bail member rigidly locked with respect to the side members when in vertical position.

12. The combination witlra wooden basket including a bottom and side walls, of handle securing members arranged within the basbail member pivotally connected to said securing members and adapted to fold down msideof the basket, said ball member being constructed witha hand engaging portion and arm portions, said arm portions being arranged to lie in substantial parallelism with the side walls and closely adj acent there to, and said hand engaging portion arranged to lie substantially parallel with the bottom of the basket when saidba'il member is folded within the basket to permit nesting of the baskets. v

13. In combustion, a woodenbasket ineluding veneer sides,*reinforcing means adjacent the top edges of the sides and a bottom s ecured to the sides, and a bail supporting ket and secured directly to the bottom and a means comprising side members extendingket, said members being connectedwith the reinforcing means ad acent their upper ends vertically withinthe veneer sides of the basand directly with the bottom at their lower ends to provide a direct support therefor. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRY w. KRAMER. 

